Douglas town hall bosses have adopted a formal vandalism policy as a response, in part, to the costs of repairing damage.

The council has been formulating the plans since earlier this year.

The environmental services committee had sought to draw up a specific policy for the council to address incidents of vandalism to council property, in particular the cost that vandalism damage brings with it.

The executive committee outlined how other organisations have sought to recover costs, even without a specific policy being in place.

The council has also discussed the matter with the police and sought legal advice.

The council agenda states that a draft policy has been drawn up taking police and legal advice into account, while being ’cognisant of current guidance on data protection legislation’.

In March council leader David Christian said the recent spate of vandalism was ’despicable’.

He said: ’Regrettably there has been a noticeable escalation in the frequency and severity of vandalism in the town. These despicable and deliberate criminal acts cost many thousands of pounds to rectify.

’As a consequence, they impose an unnecessary financial burden on ratepayers, causing the council to be forced to redirect monies budgeted for delivering and improving its services.

’But we cannot count the cost of vandalism in monetary terms alone.

’There is also the social impact, which means the community as a whole suffers and feels less secure.’

In recent months, Douglas has seen vandals target Shaw’s Brow car park, shops in Strand Street and an electrical panel at the Peveril Building in Douglas.

During that last incident, a young man destroyed a key pad and then urinated on it.